- Route difficulty ratings
- Safety tips
- Best-for recommendations
- Manchester Airport access guide
The Lake District is England’s finest driving country. Within an hour of each other you will find the steepest road in the country, a chain of mirror-still lakes, Roman mountain passes and valleys that turn from pastoral green to bare rock in a single mile. These are the best Lake District scenic drives, nine routes from gentle lake-shore cruises to white-knuckle hairpin climbs, each one chosen for the scenery it delivers rather than simply the miles it covers. A hire car is the only way to link them, and most are within easy reach if you pick up at Manchester Airport, the closest major gateway.
The Best Lake District Scenic Drives at a Glance
If you only have time for one of the best scenic drives in the Lake District, drive the Hardknott and Wrynose Passes for sheer drama, or the A591 from Windermere to Keswick for big views without the difficulty. Here are the best Lake District scenic drives at a glance, with distance and difficulty so you can match a drive to your time and your nerve.
| Scenic drive | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Hardknott & Wrynose Passes | Approx 15 miles | Hard, single-track, 33% gradient |
| Kirkstone Pass (The Struggle) | Approx 15 miles | Moderate, steep in places |
| Honister Pass & Buttermere | Approx 30 miles | Moderate, narrow climbs |
| Newlands Pass | Approx 10 miles | Moderate, narrow |
| Whinlatter Pass | Approx 9 miles | Easy to moderate |
| A591 Windermere to Keswick | Approx 20 miles | Easy |
| Kendal to Keswick | Approx 30 miles | Easy |
| Ullswater & the A592 | Approx 15 miles | Easy to moderate |
| Wast Water & the Western Lakes | Approx 25 miles | Moderate, remote |
What You Need to Know Before Driving in the Lake District
IMPORTANT: The high passes are not for nervous drivers. Hardknott and Wrynose are single-track with gradients up to 33% (1 in 3), tight hairpins and sheer drops, and can close in winter ice. If you are new to narrow mountain roads, start with the A591 or the Ullswater drive and build up. A smaller, lower car is easier on the passes than a wide SUV.
The UK drives on the left. Many of the best scenic drives in the Lake District use narrow single-track roads with passing places: pull into the nearest one to let oncoming traffic or faster cars pass, and never park in a passing place. Use low gears on steep descents to save your brakes, watch for sheep and lambs on open fells, and expect weak or no mobile signal in the remote valleys, so download your route offline before you set off.
The best time to drive is late spring to autumn, when the passes are clear and the days are long. Avoid the middle of the day in peak summer, when the central lakes and their car parks are busiest, and check road and weather reports before tackling the high passes. For official guidance see the Lake District National Park and the UK government driving pages.
Drive 1: Hardknott and Wrynose Passes
This is the one every keen driver comes for. Linking Little Langdale near Ambleside with Eskdale in the west, the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes are widely recognised as the steepest and most scenic drive in England, a Roman-built route of 33% gradients, blind hairpins and dizzying views. Tripadvisor reviewers have rated Hardknott the most scenic drive in Britain, and once you have crested the top and looked back down the valley, you will understand why.
Drive west from Ambleside to Little Langdale, where Wrynose begins its climb past the Three Shire Stone. A short, steep descent into Wrynose Bottom is followed almost immediately by Hardknott, whose final wall reaches 33%. Take it slowly, use low gears, and pull over at the Roman fort halfway down for one of the great views in the Lakes. Once committed there is little room to turn, so only attempt it in good weather and daylight. For a full day, return via the Honister or Whinlatter loops rather than retracing your steps, combining several Lake District scenic drives in one outing.
Drive 2: Kirkstone Pass, The Struggle
Kirkstone is the highest mountain pass in the Lake District open to traffic, climbing to 454 metres between Ambleside and Ullswater. The road up from Ambleside is so steep it is nicknamed The Struggle. At the summit the Kirkstone Pass Inn, one of the highest pubs in England, makes a fitting halfway stop before the sweeping descent towards Patterdale and the shores of Ullswater.
This drive packs huge drama into a short distance and is more forgiving than Hardknott, making it the perfect introduction to the mountain passes. Run it from Ambleside up over the top, down to Glenridding and Patterdale, then back along the A592 beside Ullswater for one of the most rewarding short Lake District scenic drives you can do in a morning.
Drive 3: Honister Pass and Buttermere
One of the most beautiful Lake District drives starts and ends in Keswick. Follow the B5289 along the eastern shore of Derwentwater into Borrowdale, then climb the narrow, dramatic Honister Pass past the slate mine at the top. The descent drops you alongside Buttermere and Crummock Water, two of the loveliest and least crowded lakes in the National Park.
Driving the loop clockwise via Seatoller tends to be easier on the steepest sections. Stop at Buttermere village for a flat, family-friendly four-mile lakeside walk, then complete the circuit back to Keswick over the Whinlatter or Newlands roads. Allow half a day to do it justice.
Drive 4: Newlands Pass
Newlands Pass links Braithwaite, near Keswick, with Buttermere by way of the quiet Newlands Valley. It starts as a humble country lane and evolves into a narrow route carved into the mountainside, passing the tumbling Moss Force waterfall near the top. Less steep than Honister but every bit as scenic, it is a favourite among drivers who like their roads quiet.
Because the road is narrow and unsuitable for nervous drivers, take it slowly and use the passing places. If you are returning towards Keswick, leave it until later in the day to avoid meeting a steady stream of traffic coming the other way. Combine it with Honister for a superb Keswick-Buttermere-Keswick circuit, one of the classic scenic drives in the Lake District, of around 30 miles.
Drive 5: Whinlatter Pass
Whinlatter is the only true mountain forest pass in England, climbing through Whinlatter Forest between Braithwaite and the Lorton Valley. It is one of the gentler Lake District scenic drives, which makes it ideal in poor weather or with less confident passengers, yet the views over Bassenthwaite Lake and the Skiddaw fells are superb.
The forest itself is worth a stop: there are waymarked walking and mountain-biking trails, a visitor centre and a chance to spot the ospreys that nest near Bassenthwaite in summer. Whinlatter pairs naturally with the Honister and Newlands passes to form a full day of varied driving around the northern lakes.
Drive 6: The A591, Windermere to Keswick
If you want classic Lakeland scenery without a demanding drive, this is the most accessible of all the scenic drives in the Lake District. Voted one of the ten best drives in the UK in a Fiat survey, this well-surfaced road runs from Windermere through Ambleside and Grasmere to Keswick, taking in Lakeland fells, drystone walls and the wooded shores of several lakes along the way.
It is the perfect first drive of any trip and a wonderful introduction to the area for first-time visitors. Stop at Grasmere for gingerbread and Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, and at Thirlmere for the reservoir views, before arriving in Keswick at the foot of Skiddaw. Easy, scenic and open in almost any weather, it is one of the most accessible Lake District scenic drives of all.
Drive 7: Kendal to Keswick, the UK’s Number One Road Trip
In a survey of UK motorists by Drivalia, this Kendal to Keswick route, one of the most celebrated scenic drives in the Lake District, was voted the single best road trip in the entire country, beating Scotland’s Loch Lomond to Glencoe into second place. It threads from the market town of Kendal up into the heart of the National Park, taking in Windermere, Ambleside and Grasmere before reaching Keswick, much of it along the celebrated A591.
As a gentle, accessible route packed with quintessential Lake District scenery, it is the ideal drive to bookend a trip or to enjoy on a day when the high passes are shrouded in cloud. It also makes the natural first leg if you are arriving from the south or from Manchester Airport up the M6.
Drive 8: Ullswater and the A592
Often called the most beautiful of all the lakes, Ullswater offers one of the easiest Lake District scenic drives, best seen from the A592 that hugs its western shore. The road curves between the water and the fells, with constant views across to Place Fell and the chance to stop at Aira Force waterfall or to catch the Ullswater Steamer for a different perspective.
Link it with Kirkstone Pass for a satisfying loop from Ambleside, or follow it north to Pooley Bridge and out towards Penrith. It is an easy, deeply scenic drive that rewards a slow pace and frequent stops.
Drive 9: Wast Water and the Western Lakes
For the wildest of all the Lake District scenic drives, head to the remote western Lakes. The drive in to Wast Water, England’s deepest lake, runs beneath the screes of Illgill Head with Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, rising at its head. The view down the lake was once voted Britain’s favourite, and the quiet roads here feel a world away from the busy central honeypots.
Approach from the coast via Gosforth and allow plenty of time, as the lanes are narrow and there is no through route, you return the way you came. Combine it with the western end of the Hardknott drive for a long, unforgettable day exploring the wildest corner of the National Park.
Hiring a Car for Your Lake District Scenic Drives
You cannot reach most of these Lake District scenic drives by public transport, so a hire car is essential. The nearest major airport is Manchester, around 1 hour 30 minutes from the southern Lakes up the M6, with the far northern lakes about two hours away. For everything you need on collecting a car, suppliers and the best rates, see our guide to car hire at Manchester Airport, the gateway to the Lakes.
For the high passes, choose a smaller, lower car rather than a wide SUV: it will be far easier on the single-track sections and hairpins. Wherever you are heading in Britain, our UK car hire guide compares all the major suppliers in one search, with insurance and taxes included. Compare deals below and start planning your Lake District road trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best scenic drive in the Lake District?
The Hardknott and Wrynose Passes are the most dramatic scenic drive in the Lake District, a Roman road with 33% gradients and hairpin bends that Tripadvisor reviewers have rated the most scenic drive in Britain. For big views without a difficult drive, the A591 from Windermere to Keswick is the best easy option among scenic drives in the Lake District, and the Kendal to Keswick route was voted the UK’s number one road trip.
How difficult are the Hardknott and Wrynose Passes to drive?
They are among the most challenging roads in England. Both are single-track with steep gradients up to 33% (1 in 3), tight hairpin bends and sheer drops, and they can be slippery or closed in winter. They are perfectly drivable with care in a small car in good weather, but are not suitable for nervous drivers or large vehicles, and are best avoided in poor visibility.
How long do you need to drive the Lake District scenic routes?
A single easy drive such as the A591 takes 1 to 2 hours, while a full mountain-pass loop of 70 to 90 miles needs 6 to 8 hours with photo stops. To drive a good selection of these Lake District scenic drives without rushing, allow two to three days based in a central town such as Keswick, Ambleside or Windermere.
When is the best time to drive in the Lake District?
Late spring to autumn is best, when the high passes are clear of ice and the days are long. Avoid the middle of the day in peak summer when the central lakes are busiest, and check weather and road reports before tackling Hardknott, Wrynose or Honister, as the passes can close in snow and ice during winter. Plan your Lake District scenic drives around the seasons for the best experience.
Which airport is best for a Lake District road trip?
Manchester Airport is the best major gateway for Lake District scenic drives, around 1 hour 30 minutes from the southern Lake District up the M6 and about two hours from the far northern lakes. It has a dedicated Car Rental Village with all the main suppliers. See our car hire Manchester Airport guide for details.
Plan Your Lake District Road Trip
From the heart-stopping climb of Hardknott to the gentle shores of Ullswater, these nine best scenic drives in the Lake District reveal the full range of what makes it the finest driving country in England. Mountain passes, forest roads, lake-shore cruises and remote western valleys, all within an hour or two of each other, and all far more rewarding from behind the wheel of your own car.
Pick up at Manchester Airport, point the car north up the M6, and the Lakes are yours to explore. Compare car hire deals below and start planning your Lake District scenic drives.
Exploring more of the North of England? Take a look at our Yorkshire Dales scenic drives guide.